The Debrief, 9/2/14

This week we watch tensions between Hong Kong and China rise again as China proposes to control how candidates for chief executive elections are chosen; we also look at why Taiwanese businesses in China are not returning to Taiwan, and India’s prime minister’s first foreign trip–to Japan.

On August 31st, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China announced details for how Hong Kong will elect its chief executive in 2017. In a statement, China’s top legislative body said that while eligible voters will cast votes among a set of candidates for the first time, the candidates will only be selected by a nominating committee.

In 2012, Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) announced an incentive program for Taiwanese businesses in China to reinvest back in Taiwan. The program, commonly known as the “Salmon Returns” program, may be discontinued at the end of this year due to lackluster results.

On Saturday, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his 5-day visit to Japan, his first major foreign trip since he was elected to office in May. According to a joint statement issued on Monday, this visit is a “reflection of Japan’s importance in India’s foreign policy and economic development, at the heart of India’s Look East Policy.” (See here)

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